Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

312
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
their gayest attire, it being the festival of the blessed Virgin. On
this account the greater part of the bazars were shut.
The dress to which I have alluded is so extremely singular, that
I am persuaded the reader will not be displeased at my attempting
to describe it at some length. The head-dress is somewhat agree*
able, and consists of a skull-cap, embroidered in gold, having a
coloured wrought handkerchief passed round it, which leaves the
embroidery in the centre of the cap uncovered. In some instances
the head is simply covered by a white handkerchief; and the hair
is occasionally cut short, while by others of these females it is left
flowing in ringlets down the back. They wear a kind of short
spencer of green silk or satin, the inside of the sleeves being stuffed
with cotton, to give to the arms an appearance of plumpness.
The gold embroidered cuffs, which reach nearly to the elbows, are
turned back. Over this spencer they have a wide outer vest, pas-
sed round the body, and reaching to the knees only, which is
plaited in such a way as to make the wearer appear of an enormous
size, and as if clad in a wide but short hoop. This outer
garment is either of green, or of pink satin, or silk; but the former
of these colours is the most prevalent. A short apron of silk
or of satin, which is sometimes embroidered, and sometimes made
of flowered cottons of different colours, reaches from the bosom
to the knees. The white cotton petticoat is worn so short, that
the red embroidered garters are seen intentionally hanging beneath
k: the stockings are white, as are also the slippers, or shoes, which
are worn down at the heel, but fancifully decorated with coloured
silk ribbons, and otherwise verv elegantly ornamented. Some of
these females display the upper part of the bosom, which is cover-
ed by others with a handkerchief. They are in general very fair,
have agreeable features, and a fine and striking physiognomy. In
this island, indeed, the complexion both of the Greek and Turkish
women is good; but the former, not content with that which
nature has liberally bestowed on them, endeavour to embellish it
by having recourse to art. I allude here to the Greek women who
inhabit the town of Sew: they go always unveiled, and when they
put on their gay garments, are highly rouged, or painted.
When a Turk espouses one of these females, the children whom
she bears to him are educated in the Mahomedan faith, while
the mother is permitted to continue in the practice of her own re-
ligion.